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For this column, I like to have theme of what I’m going to talk about over the course of the article. For instance, last time was all about math, and the time before that was a tactical look at the game. While today’s variants do have a theme they follow, it is tough to put that theme into a one or two word description. So for now, I’ll describe it like this: every card in your deck serves a specific purpose. Yes, every card in a deck serves a specific purpose, but as you read on, you’ll see what I mean. Scavenger Hunt This game is great for those of you out there who have been collecting for a while. The premise of the variant is extremely simple. Each player is given an identical list of “categories.” Then, each player must construct a deck with cards that fit into those categories. Confused? Here is a sample list. This was taken from the 2001 Event Horizon’s Invitational.
The really cool thing about this format is that it is adaptable. The above list is not set in stone as the way you “must” play this format. It is simply one of many possible lists. If you don’t like some of the categories on there, make your own. Maybe you don’t have any lands that don’t produce mana (#35); just change that category. The only thing that matters is that everyone involved has the same list. So, that’s it for Scavenger Hunt. It’s a very simple game.
Rainbow Stairwell If you read Bennie Smith’s article on mtg.com, you’ve probably heard about this format. It’s called Rainbow Stairwell. This name is somewhat all-encompassing, as there are a few variations on this variation. There’s Rainbow Stairwell(RS) 56, RS 60, RS 61, and other homebrews that incorporate variants like Peasant or Highlander. Despite the many variants, the core of the game is always the same. Decks are constructed using cards spanning all five colors, with CCs running 1-6. For each color, you must have one card that has a mana cost of one, you must have a card with a mana cost of two, and on up to six. If you are still confused, here’s an example. This could be the white portion of your deck:
When playing RS, you’ll have to pick a format. For casual players, that will probably be T1. No matter what format you chose, you’ll have to follow the banned/restricted list. So if you want to play Mirrodin block RS, no Skullclamp for you. RS itself has a banned list. All 0CC spells (Ornithopter, Moxen, etc…) are banned. Gold spells/split spells/hybrid mana spells are banned. No X’s either (Fireball). In order to keep the structure of this format, the Wishes from Judgment are also banned. Finally, and probably most confusingly, any card that mentions non-basic lands are banned. In most RS games, you won’t see any non-basics anyway. Dryad Sophisticate fans, sorry, but you are out of luck. Blood Moon and Molten Rain are also good examples. Stone Rain is still allowed, because it doesn’t specify non-basic. Some other notes about acceptable cards: All that matters for a card's CC is what’s printed in the top-right corner. Kicker, Entwine, Ninjutsu, or anything else that modifies a spell’s CC or the amount of mana you need to play it are allowed, but not counted towards the card’s CC for construction purposes. The flip cards from Kamigawa block are allowed, and are to be looked at in pre-flipped form. The strategy of this format is one that looks to blend color fixing with tutoring. Because the deck spans all five colors, getting the right colors consistently is a must. With all of the color-fixing uncertainty, I would stay away from the double-color spells. Befoul is great, but I wouldn’t be using it too often. To help remedy this, cards like Kodama’s Reach and Farseek help sort out the colors. Next, tutoring is very important, because you are only running one copy of your most important spells. Gifts Ungiven works well, but if you don’t have the money for one of those, the transmute cards from Ravnica become pseudo-tutors. The transmute ability becomes even more relevant, because every CC is hit. For your viewing pleasure, a Type 2 Rainbow Stairwell 56 deck:
The white is this deck mixes utility with beats. Isamaru starts the face-smashing party, while the Warden and Moth make your beaters bigger. Guardian of the Guildpact is basically untouchable in this variant, because no multicolored spells are allowed. Angel of Mercy gets you a few more beats, not to mention a nice little life boost, and Harrier Griffin gets rid of pesky blockers. Also, there aren’t many 6CC white cards in standard right now…
Blue mixes tutor with more beatdown. I debated Mark of Eviction and Spell Snare, but in the end went with the annoying remover. Telling Time, Drift, and Gifts allow you to tutor, while Meloku and Keiga serve as victory conditions.
I hope you see a pattern here. My black is basically removal, removal, and more removal. Every card there has the potential to kill a creature. My big debates here were Darkblast vs. Plagued Rusalka and Rend Flesh vs. Seal of Doom. I went with the Darkblast simply because of the dredge ability. I took Rend Flesh because I know my opponent is running six black cards, so Seal won’t always hit. I don’t know how many spirits my opponent is running, but I’m confident rend will land more often than seal.
Basic red stuff here. Kird Ape will get its bonus more often than not. Some people don’t like Thundermare, but I do, so he went in at the top of the curve.
Early mana fixing/acceleration, followed up by big beaters: it’s what green does best. The bottom of the curve nets you the colors you need, while the top three creatures bring the beats. Hunted Wumpus is the card I most fear in this deck, but with the amount of removal I’m running, I feel safe with it.
Divining Top helps you sift through to find your colors. Once you get your colors online, War Plow becomes a 4/4 just about every turn. Glass Golem and Hulk are there just for more creatures. Golem is a little shaky, but I hope that my white utility stuff will be there. I briefly considered Ornate Kanzashi for that spot. Because everyone is playing the same colors, the Hair Pins are more relevant than a lot would realize. Add 4 of each basic land, and we’ve got a RS 56 deck. That’s it. Rainbow Stairwell is a format that is a lot of fun, and is sure to be a good time.
Learn your ABC’s
When building for this format, your deck will probably have green, black, or red in it somewhere. Those three colors are the only colors with an “X” card in them. While the Statue is an artifact, I don’t actually know anyone that owns one, so I don’t know how many people will be toting that in their deck. The proxy rule does help this a little, though. If you are thinking that decks built this way will lack consistency or focus, think again. This first deck has both. It’s almost a completely tribal deck, which is impressive for this format, and is a very dangerous discard machine. This is thanks to Loki from MTGNews.com.
I would’ve gone with Megrim over Mind Twist, but other than that, this is a pretty solid build for this format. One more deck that caught my eye in ABC is a reanimator deck. I couldn’t find the author of this deck.
Unhinged fans should immediately see that Zzzyxas’s Abyss and Now I know my ABC’s are insane in this format. ABC Magic: maybe this simplest format I’ve covered.
There you have it for this week: three formats to test your deckbuilding creativity. Until next time, have fun with Scavenger Hunt, RS, and ABC’s. ~lionden_56~
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As
you can see, there are some strange categories in there. The format is almost
always type one, because stuff like the snow-covered lands have rotated out
(until Coldsnap anyway). Some more rules: 
You
only use one copy of each card. The same holds true for all five colors, and
artifacts. Adding six cards of each color and six artifacts will give you a core
deck of 36 cards. This is where the variants begin to differ. In RS 56, the deck
is required to have 4 of each type of land. This adds 20 lands to the deck, so
36 + 20 = 56, giving you a finished deck of 56 cards, hence the name RS 56. RS
60 lets you add any 24 basic lands. It doesn’t require a specific amount of any
one type of land. RS 61 is the format that will give you the most consistent
mana base, but is also the most expensive. You use 25 lands in RS 61: 3 of each
basic, and 2 of each allied color “dual” land. The type of duals you use is up
to you, but it should be kept constant among all players. If you have the old
ABU duals, then you can use those. Ravnica duals? Go for it. No duals? The
painlands from 9th will work. Don’t have those either? Try the taplands from
Invasion (IE Urborg Volcano). Any cycle of five lands that produce the allied
colors of mana work. 
White
Green
We
finish this week with another fairly simple variant. It will, however, force you
to go find your Xenic Poltergeists or Xantid Swarms. The format is called ABC
Magic, and has basically only one rule. There must be one card in your deck that
starts with each letter of the alphabet. I’ve seen this variant used in a
tournament before, and I’ve never seen so many Xantid Swarms in one place. Lands
count towards their letter, so Mountain can be used for “M”. They don’t have to,
however. You can include more than one copy of each card, with the standard no
more than four aside from basics. You cannot have two different cards that start
with the same letter. It may be advisable to allow proxies for X, because Xantid
Swarm is the only newer card that starts with X. I don’t know too many people
that keep Xanthic Statues on them.
Loki's
ABC Deck. 